20 moments

1. Birth in Mayfair

   1936-03-18 · Mayfair, Johannesburg, South Africa

   Frederik Willem de Klerk was born into an influential Afrikaner family in the Mayfair suburb of Johannesburg. Coordinates represent Mayfair, the birth suburb.

2. Monument High School graduation

   1953-01-01 · Hoërskool Monument, Krugersdorp, South Africa

   De Klerk completed school after boarding at Hoërskool Monument in Krugersdorp.

3. Legal studies at Potchefstroom University

   1954-01-01 · Potchefstroom University, Potchefstroom, South Africa

   He began the period of study in which he earned Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law degrees and entered Afrikaner student political networks. Source gives a 1954–1958 study interval; this card is anchored to its stated start year.

4. Law partnership in Vereeniging

   1962-01-01 · Vereeniging, South Africa

   De Klerk established the law partnership that formed the base of his professional career before entering national politics. Coordinates represent central Vereeniging; the office address is not supplied.

5. Parliamentary visit to the United States

   1976-01-01 · United States

   While serving in parliamentary study groups, de Klerk visited the United States and later recalled observing racial incidents there. The source establishes a 1976 visit to the United States but does not identify a city; coordinates are a representative national point.

6. Meeting Margaret Thatcher in London

   1989-01-01 · London, England, United Kingdom

   After becoming National Party leader, de Klerk expanded foreign contacts and met British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in London. The meeting is dated only to 1989 in the source.

7. Private meeting with anti-apartheid leaders

   1989-10-01 · Pretoria, South Africa

   As State President, de Klerk met Desmond Tutu, Allan Boesak, and Frank Chikane during the opening phase of political reform. The precise venue of the private meeting is not specified.

8. Opening-of-Parliament reform speech

   1990-02-02 · Houses of Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa

   De Klerk delivered the address that announced major reforms, including the unbanning of opposition organizations and the release of political prisoners.

9. World Economic Forum meeting

   1992-01-01 · Davos, Graubünden, Switzerland

   

   De Klerk and Nelson Mandela appeared together at the World Economic Forum amid negotiations over South Africa’s political transition. Month-level date is supplied by the image caption.

10. Liberty Medal appearance

    1993-07-01 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

    

    Near the close of the negotiations, de Klerk and Mandela were in Philadelphia to receive the Liberty Medal jointly. Coordinates represent Independence Hall, the traditional Liberty Medal venue.

11. Nobel Peace Prize lecture

    1993-12-10 · Oslo City Hall, Oslo, Norway

    De Klerk delivered his Nobel Lecture after sharing the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela for their roles in ending apartheid.

12. Election agreement meeting

    1994-04-19 · Union Buildings, Pretoria, South Africa

    De Klerk led a National Party delegation in a Union Buildings meeting that produced an agreement intended to support a free, fair, and peaceful election.

13. Inauguration of democratic government

    1994-05-10 · Union Buildings, Pretoria, South Africa

    

    De Klerk participated in Nelson Mandela’s inauguration and began service as one of South Africa’s two deputy presidents in the Government of National Unity. The quoted autobiographical account identifies the inauguration context as 10 May 1994.

14. Address at Central Connecticut State University

    1997-01-01 · Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut, United States

    After declining a Yale Law School fellowship amid planned protests, de Klerk spoke at Central Connecticut State University. The source dates the episode to 1997 but does not provide a day or month.

15. Visit to Stockholm

    2001-12-03 · Stockholm, Sweden

    De Klerk was visiting Stockholm for the centenary of the Nobel Prize foundation when he learned of the murder of his former wife, Marike de Klerk. The source places the Stockholm visit in the account dated 3 December 2001.

16. Speech at Kent State Stark

    2006-09-11 · Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, Ohio, United States

    Following treatment for colon cancer and respiratory complications, de Klerk returned to public speaking at Kent State University Stark Campus.

17. Global Forum on New Democracies

    2007-01-26 · Taipei, Taiwan

    De Klerk participated in Taipei’s preparatory conference for the Global Forum on New Democracies and signed its founding declaration with other former heads of state. The annual report identifies the forum as taking place in Taipei on 26 January 2007; coordinates represent central Taipei.

18. College Historical Society visit

    2008-03-01 · Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    De Klerk visited the College Historical Society of Trinity College Dublin, where he later received recognition for his contribution to ending apartheid. The visit is identified by month only; the College Historical Society is based at Trinity College Dublin.

19. Nelson Mandela memorial service

    2013-12-10 · FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa

    

    De Klerk attended the official memorial service for Nelson Mandela, his former negotiating counterpart and successor as president.

20. Death at home in Fresnaye

    2021-11-11 · Fresnaye, Cape Town, South Africa

    De Klerk died in his sleep at his home in the Fresnaye suburb of Cape Town, aged 85. Coordinates represent the Fresnaye suburb; the home address is not given.